The rape happened shortly after 4pm on Monday in a green space close to the Ashgrove apartments, opposite St Mark's GAA Club on the Cookstown Road in the Springfield area of Tallaght.

The traumatised victim has given a detailed statement to a specialist child interviewer, and officers are following a definite line of inquiry. It is understood that CCTV has played a major part in the investigation.

Before making her statement, the victim was taken to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries.

Gardai said there is no link between the rape and the sexual assault of two other teenagers in the locality around an hour later.

Officers received reports that two sisters who are aged in their late teens were attacked by six young men as they walked through Maplewood, which is also in Springfield, at 5.30pm.